Racking machine



` ou. 21, 1930. .R P, M DAVIS 1,779,210

. RACKING MACHINE TWIVIHHHHHHHUH lamumumuh 11 e 1 IIE; g u .lu

' Oct. 21, 1930.

R. P. M. DAvls `1,779,210

RACKING MACHINE med June 11, 1929 e sheets-sheet 2 oct. 21, 1930.

R. M. DAVIS 6 Sheets-Sheet '3 Bn'nas 2 if; minimum f M# i w MMIMMIMI f m'" IL? ""1" f' ,i5

Oct. 2l, 1930. R p, M DAvls 1,779,210

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Oct. 2l, 1930. R. P. M. DAVIS 1,779,210

A RACKING MACHINE l Filed June 11; 1929 @Sheets-Sheet 5 37 oqy 77" Dfi ws A oct. 21, 1930.

R. P. M. DAVIS RACKING MACHINE Filed June ll, 1929 6'l Sheets-Sheet .6

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`patented Oct. 21, 1,930

, aux reim-myla-or-MQUNT,UNIQNRENNWYMMy f 1 anemia@ My( inventiony relates to innp rovementsi in =briclri storage. loading machines v,and isr more particularly adaptedffor; use, in that ,ty aof machine adapted for-,theharrdling oi, rick ffrom aibriclomakingI machine. e A

The present invention represents 2anginprovement. over Patent;No. A1,606,47 7 issued to` William rMcGlelland, Novemberxfgth,

10 l- Tlie zprincipal-'objectof my invention isto provide ymeans for i automatically and contin- :uonsly plaoin'g loaded ,-pallets, that is; pallets with brick thereon, their propeippositlons within a: drying,,-cary Wiithput nj ury/tojathe 'i This. i; application is :more g specifically .dr Yrect'ed to 4the means :,for l,conti nuously receivf ing; vthe zloadedpallets: fromY `the brick[maljr ving \.ma.c hine. and arranging the samev4 I1n,

- provideimeans for.Y moyingthe verticali Qelevater; step by Step, at 1a distance `egual to the :space between `the racks, of thedrying car.

ai Still another object? of .the i-nyention is; to provide a .loader o the class d escribedrwhich is adaptedl to load onlyl one half-of the, rack l cationis one injwhichga-r central vertical wall is 'provided -and; upon each side ofvwhich is adapted tofbeplace'd rows- Qfaloaded pallets. i y:Other: and-,unthergobjectsand advantages @will be lapparent asf the specification is con-` sidered in, connection with the accompanying drawings. "2

i Heretofore,f considerable]t1me, has, been lost inl the f operationwf ,loading machines due to the necessity for causing thes elevator vactuating(-vmechanisln y to pa1 lse -fwhile the :push zfarm employed for, pushlng the loaded pallets from the elevatorto the dryercar re- ,turns to. its normal; position. 1 ffhisobjection is.overcamebyffhefpislet invhton- V Briefly2 stated, thev present application is ,directed 4 to `machine wliereinth'e loaded ,pallets from/v, the brick- Inakiritig machine are .conveyedby suitable delivery 4mechanismto .elevators frorn'` which. the loaded pallets` are transferred to drying cars.v A ,These ele v a t(` rs comprisepairs'pf spaced endless vertical l60 conveyors having uponthelir outer or op'era tivev faces angle bars ywhichf forni ai support` for-,the loaded ypallets Whenthelatter are slipped in between tl-ie, endless conveyors. The,vertical conveyors 'aref moved Vstep by ,See and at rhe...fpriip1efipnfof beach. se a f Iserlesof pallets, preferably; four infnunfi er, is de livered'to a fpair of barsor supporting' racks carried by the conveyors After the A.ve`rt i za l con\ 1.e ,yo rs have` been loaded, a conventional ,drying car having v racks kcorrespondinoto the barsaor of the elevator,

liavingjaeen moved into alignment`r or level Lthe racks. of the elevatonA the pallets are then pushed from thel racks'ot `the elevator to the\ rac ksof the drying car, by means of folding pusher barsfwhich are automatically folded )upon completion of. thefworking Vstroke towiperinit of their return to normal .position .without interference, froni pallets ,being Yto the lowermostf rack' barsfof the elevatoicduring tl1e` unloading ofthe bars V,therfabove.- 1 i" i 1 -A preferredvvand practical embodiment yof the invention is illustratedfin the accompanying drawings, in which:y i j y Figurell isa side elevation of raclftingr machine. in `,which the present invention ris embodied; i Y Y Figure 2 is a planview of the machine;

' igure 8 Ais a sectional elevation .taken i alongthe line 3 3 ofFigure 2; u

Q Figurel isa sectional elevation of the pusher bar in its Yorward position showing 95 theloadecl pallets being pushed into lthey rack car; l y fr" Figuren is an enlargedrfront elevation of the pusherE bar mechanism; l vFigure@ isl an enlarged `fragmentary View of the automatic make and break connection for the pusher bar motor;

Figure 7 is a sectional view of the elevator mechanism clutch Figure 8 is a side view of the fixed disk of the elevator mechanism clutch;

Figure 9 is a. detail of the clutch wheel of the elevator mechanism;

Figures 10 and 11 are details of the cam lever of the clutch mechanism;

Figure 12 is a detailed view showing a section of the belt or chain which forms a part of the vertical conveyor or elevator;

Figure 13 is a detailed view showing one section of a rack bar-of the elevator an d guide meansv carried thereby.

eferring more specifically to the drawings wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 1 indicates a suitable skeleton frame formed of angle iron, or the like, and to which is connected the supporting elements of the various mechanism hereinbefore referred to. Positioned within the skeleton frame 1 are base members 2 which have secured thereto, as disclosed in Figure 5, a pair of spaced horizontal shafts E mounted within suitable bushings carried by the members 2. Each shaft 3 has keyed thereto adjacent its end portions sprocket gears t around which pass suitable chains 5. Supported by the upperniost bean'i of the skeleton frame 1 is a corresponding pair of spaced shafts 6, which likewise have keyed thereto sprocket gears 7 around which the endless chains 5 also pass. The active faces, that is, the outer face of each pair of chains 5, have suitably secured thereto the opposite ends of angle iron bars or racks 8 and, itwill be noted in Figure 1, that one end of each bar is cut and bent downwardly as indicated. at 9, the purpose of which being to facilitate the placing of the loaded pallets between the chains 5 and upon opposing angle irons or rack bars 8. ln spaced relation with the supjiiorting surface of rack bars 8, are confining ribs 8', which serve to maintain the pallets in place. rlhe chains 5 it will noted, are so arranged in pairs and each pair so spaced as to receive therebetween loaded pallets 13 which are received by and supported upon the angle irons or .racks 8, and elevated thereby step by step in a manner hereinafter described.

As disclosed in Figures 12 and 13 each angle iron bar or rack bar 8 is connected to one link of the chain 5, by angle member 10T, rivets 108, being` employed for this purpose. The links of the chain 5 have positioned therein rollers 109 mounted on pms and engaging within guides 111 suitably positioned in the frame 1, adjacent the active side of the chains. The purpose of the guides 111 is to prevent the inward movement ot the chains between the shafts 3 and 6, thus preventing the droppin@ of the pallets carried by the bars 8.

The pallets 13 with brick 13 thereon, are delivered between the vertical conveyors and positioned on the racks 8 thereof by means of an endless belt or chain conveyor 10, continuously driven from any suitable source (not shown), in conjunction with the guide bars or tracks 14, it being understood that loaded pallets are at all times being fed from vthe brick machine (not shown) to the belt or chain conveyor 10. The entrance and the filling of one rack of the elevator by a series of loaded pallets automatically causes the eleva-tor to move one step so that a group of loaded. )allets will be lifted from 4the horizi'intal plane of the conveyor 10 and the nervt adjacent rack of the elevator elevated for loading in like manner. This step bystep movement of the elevator follows:

The irame 1 has securer. thereto a suitable shaft 15 upon which is loosely .mounted a sleeve 1G, one end of which has formed integral therewith or fixed thereto, a belt wheel 17, while the other end has secured thereto in a like manner, a toothed wheel 18. One end of theshaft 15 has keyed thereto a bev- 4eled gear 19 which meshes with a second beveled gear 20, carried by a vertically disposed n shaft 21, the upper end of which has keyed thereto a worm gearQQ, engageable with a worm gear 23 iiXed to a horizontally arranged shaft 2amounted in suitable brackets 25 positioned upon the frame 1. The outer end of the shaft 24 has keyed thereto a sprocket wheel 26 around which passes a sprocket chain 27 which transmits motion to avsecond sprocket wheel 28 keyed to one end of one of the shafts 6. In order that the other vertical conveyor may be operated in unison with the first, the opposite end of the first mentioned shaft 6 has fixed thereto a beveled gear Q9 which engages a corresponding gear 30 fixed to a horizontal cross shaft 81, supported by suitable brackets 32, depending from the main frame 1. The other end of the shaft 31 is connected to the second of the shafts 6 in a similar manner so that any rotary motion imparted to the first mentioned shaft 6 through 18, through the medium of the belt pulley 17, i

will be imparted to the shaft 15 by means of the disk 33 and its connection with the belt pulley 17.

'llo effect movement of the vertical conveyor in a step'by step manner, l have positioned is e'tfected as tot? ai' lever '35; inE 'line iWithftlief' delivery `track 14 and in -such position` that ""vvlhen` `one pair of the rack bars'8are' loaded',thelirstloaded pal- 'let 13 thereonvvillengagethe'lever 35.I This 'lever 35`isiixedlyseouredto onejendo'f afhorizontal shaft 37 mounted inbearings3,6.` "The other end ofthe 'shaft 37 "has a 'crank 'arm'137 Which is pivotally connectedy to the'lovver end of af rod'` 38, the-upper endof'vvhich- 'is conlever 39, thelatter b'eing'pivotally mounted "as at 8O in a suitable .braoket l70 secured tolthe `mainframe fThe 'longer arm 39"? 'off the bell crank le'ver'39`hasI pivotally connected thereto a horizontally arranged arm 40, the free 'end of Whi'iohispivotallysupported as at 41 by a suitable support 42 connected tothe main frame 1. The"A armi'hasformedinte gral therewith4 a finger 43the free end'of vWhich' is bent` downwardly, asindieated at 44 in Figures' 1 and/10,toform a cam Which-is adapted to be 'engaged'by and to normally support the free` end of the-lever 34 out of engagement with the toothed' disk '18, as il- Ito 'lustrated in Figure 1.` lFrom this structure it Will be observedrthat asthe loaded-pallets are delivered into @the vertical elevator', vthe first pallet on a'v pair of loaded 'rack bars' 8 iWill lbe pushed intoengagement fwiththe 30 free end of the 'armi35,`thus svvingingthefree end of this arm forwardly anddownwardly 'andV transmitting motion through lthe' slfaft 37, crankarmA and-'rod38to the'b'el-lcrank 39. This 'movement of t'heff'bell "Crank '39,

horizontally disposedarm 40', together vvith its linger 43 lfromFi'gure lto Figure' 'posi- Ition', lso that-the 'lever'lor ilatch member`ri34 'which is normally supported bythe cam kportion 44 of linger*l 43, willffdrop and engage between the teeth of thefdis'kl8, thus'connecting the' 'drive' shaftV 15"A with thefbelty Apulley 17, and in turn-'transmitting moti'onto the vertical eleva-tor, thus :causing `the elevathe' rack bars'or ribs continues until a predeterminednumber ofthe ra'rc'ks ofthe elevator have'been' loaded, preferably av number. cormspondin'g,r to the number of ra-eksiii'therack or drier ear B. Aratchet` l engaging v'vith ratchet WheelijlO/G'on shaft 24prevents reverse movementfor rotationA of the elevators under thefweght lof fthe Vpallets thereon.

When this loadinglas occurred a'pall-et ont'he uppermost loaded racklst'iikes "fand K elevates 'the arm '82,thu's electi-1oally` 'coInectir'lgV the rwi-rsiestmr closing 'thefswimusa :This

y'ranged"fand` 'adapted tomove 'infaivertieal plane between the conveyors, thus lpushlng from'` the raeks'- of the conveyors'l fthef loaded' vpallets and transferring/them to thefraeksfof Ythe drying"carB:- The armi 82, it" will'lbe lnoted, is fpivotail'lyc'onnected,I by bracket' 11,

to2 a"monorail 84, in turnsuita'blysupported .57'5

in the frame 1.

- The'pusher memberll, whiohis suspended lfrom/the monorail 84,'comprises twoifspaeed longitudinally extending angle beams 85 'each :of'which has mounted therein the axles 96f'of 0 y 4flanged Wheels"8 6, which' Wheels engage :with Aand ride uponfthe monorail 84the'latter being, as previously stated, suitablyfsupported in the 'frame 1. 'Thetanglei'beams 85' are Se- Icured tof a vcross bea-m 87- which extends vbe-H tvveen 'and supports a pair of depending-.push arms' 88; lprov'i'ded7 at ttheir-lower ends `with folding'arms 89, pivotally mounted' on pins-90 4thus permitting 'the arms to.l swing towards each other 'to' a horizontal position.V Y These'l" folding `arms' `are `controlled vby rods 9.1`l pivotally connected at-theirlower endsto offset and at their upper endsl pivotally connectedto across rodf46 extending-between andconneeted to. the'endsory v'arms' 92 of al 'substantially portions or projections 93 -on-the folding arms,

, Uishaped member Al2vvhieh member is in turn v pivotally connected toI bracketsl 94;- attached y to' the "brace '-membersy95 of the pusher frame.

lA lcurved lever '96 pivotally mounted at fone! lendon the 'axle96 ofone of the flanged Wheels 8 6, a'nd'carrying roller-*97 'at`its otl1er'end','is

ypivotally connected to; the Ushaped member .or arm 12 'by link'97. f The member 12 Ais loffset as at 47to permit of the member 12 clear- AVing'the arm 82? during the'forwardor Working stroke of thepusher frame.' As previously explained, when -thearm82 ls'trlppedf by -one ofthe topmost series or groupsoi'loaded pallets on the elevator, the switch 83 ifsfautomati'callyclosed and the motor 98 started. The motor -98 is suitably connected toandfdrives, throughredu'cing gear-A ing (not shown) thefshaft'99fupon whichis vfixed a sprocketwheel 10 0,over which the chain 101 runs. VThis chainphas extending lfrom one link'thereda pin 102, to which is pivotally connectedone end of aconnecting rod 103,the other endof which ispivotallym f ,connectedv to the pusher framef45, asfat104.`

Consequently, rotary movement-oi` the chain is translated throughy the connecting rod 103 into a-to and fro horizontalmo-vementof the pusher frame `45 along Ithe monorail 84, thus4 causingthe Apusher arms y8 8 yofy the pusher lframe to first engage and push the loaded pallets '5 fromI "thefra'ckI bars of Athe` elevator `onto lis thealined'errespondingracks'l12 of the rack of forward movement of the pusher arms is reached the roller 97, passes beneath and just beyond the hinged downwardly inclined gate 105, connected to and forming a continuation of a track 106 in turn secured to and supported from the frame 1, in any suitable manner, not shown. Roller 97 now rides up the gate 105 onto and then back over the track 10G during the return movement of the pusher frame. This upward movementof the roller lifts the folding arms 89 to a horizontal position, in effect shortening the pusher arms, of which the folding arms constitute a continuation, during the return stroke of vthe pusher frame. This foldingl movement is necessary to avoid interference between the pallets and the pusher arms, because the loaded pallets are being continuously fed into the elevator from conveyor 10, during the return stroke, and 'the elevator is continuing its step by step upward movement. In this connection it should be noted that it is essential that the guide rails or tracks la from which the loaded palleis are fed to the rack bars 8, must be on a level below that of the lowest pair of rack bars 8 being unloaded. To put it another way, the lowermost loaded bars 8, must be elevated above the level of tracks 14C, before the unloading operation can be effected.

Vhen the pusher frame has returned to its rear or starting position, roller 18 rides olf the rear end of track 106, and engages the beveled free end 48 of an angularly shaped arm Li9 the other end of which is rigidly attached to the switch actuating arm or lever 82, as at 50. As the roller 9T rides over the free end of arm 49, the latter is positively forced downwardly, thereby rocking the arm or lever 82 on its pivot and restoring the switch 83 to open position and thus stopping the motor 98 which drives the pusher frame. The arm or lever 82 is positively rocked in a downwardly direction b v the pulling` and pressing action of the roller 9T until the arm engages and rests upon the stop 51. At this time the roller rides olf the beveled end 48 of the arm 49 and drops down to the position illust-rated by dotted lines in Figure G, thus pern'iittingr the folding ends or arms 89 of the pusher arms 88 to drop by gravity to their normal vertical position ready for the next operation.

From the foregoing it will be seen that loaded pallets are gently placed or pus ied one at a time upon the elevator racks 8 until every rack thereon, or a` number of racks correspondingr to the racksrof the drier car have been filled. Vhen the elevator has been completely loaded, the multiplicity of loaded pallets are gently transferred, by a single pushing operation of the pusher arms 88 to the rack car, and the folding extensions 89 are then automatically folded and returned. It will also be noted that during the loading of the pallets into the drier car from the loaded racks of the elevator, as likewise during the return movement of the pusher arm, that loaded pallets are being constantly fed to the tracks 14 and from there to the unloaded rack of the elevator, next beneath the lowest rack being unloaded.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a brick storage loading machine, an elevator having a plurality of spaced racks for supporting pallets thereon, means for delivering loaded pallets continuously to the elevator, a rack car adjacent to and having racks similar to and level with the racks of the elevator, means for elevating the racks of the elevator', a pusher member, means for moving said pusher member forwardly and rearwardly across the vertical path of movement of the elevator racks for simultaneously pushing the loaded pallets from the elevator racks to the racks of the rack car, said pusher member having folding members normally vertically disposed, and means for lifting said folding members to horizontal position as the pusher member starts on its return movement.

2. In a brick storage loading machine, a pair of spaced vertically disposed endless conveyors each of which is provided with a series of horizontally arranged racks, said racks of each conveyor adapted to support therebetween a series of loaded pallets, a rack car adjacent to and having racks similar to and level with the racks of the conveyors, means for continuously feeding loaded pallets to the first mentioned racks, means for driving the conveyors, pusher means movable forward and back between the conveyors for moving the loaded pallets from the conveyor to the rack car, power means for reciprocating said pusher means, and means adapted for engagement by a loaded pallet on the topmost rack of the conveyor when said topmost rack has been loaded for actuating said power meai'is, and means for rendering said power means inope 1ative when said pusher means has finished its return stroke.

3. In a brick storage loading machine, a pair of spaced vertically disposed conveyors. each provided with horizontally arranged racks, means for continuously feeding loaded pallets to the racks, a rack car adjacent to and provided with racks level with the racks of the conveyors, means for moving the conveyors upwardly, an elevated track.y a pusher member mounted on said 'track and movable between the conveyors for pushing the loaded pallets from the conveyor racks to the racks of the rack car, said pushing member having folding arms, power means for moving said pusher member forward and return along said tracks, automatic means for folding said arms operable the pushing member starts on its return stroke,

Cil

vas

means tripped by a pallet on the topmost rack of the conveyors when the conveyors have been loaded for actuating said power means, and common means for returning the arms to normal unfolded position and for rendering said power means inoperative when said pusher frame has completed its return stroke.

4. In a brick storage loading machine, an elevator having a plurality of spaced racks for supporting pallets thereon, means for delivering loaded pallets continuously tothe elevator, means for actuating the elevator, a rack car adjacentthe elevator having racks level with the racks of said elevator, a pallet pusher frame, power means for reciprocating the frame to first cause the latter to simultaneously push said loaded pallets forwardly from the racks ofthe elevator rto the racks of the rack ear and then return to original position', means adapted for engagement by a loaded pallet on the topmost rack of the conveyor when said topmost rack has'been loaded for actuating said power means,

means for yelevating a portion of said pusher j frame whereby the frame will not interfere during its return stroke with loaded pallets being fed to the elevator while the latter is being unloaded and means operative at the end of the return stroke of said pusher frame for returning the said portion of said frame to normal position and for simultaneously rendering said power means inoperative. i

5. In a brick storage loading machine, an elevator having a plurality of spaced racks for supporting/pallets thereon, a conveyor for delivering loaded pallets continuously to the elevator, a rack car adjacent to and having racks similar to the racks of-the elevator,

means for elevating the racks of the elevator,

a pusher member, means for moving said pusher member forwardly and rearwardly' across the horizontal path of movement of the elevator racks for simultaneously pushing the loaded pallets from a plurality of the elen means with the racks of said elevator, a reciprocating palletl pusher frame, the lowermost loaded rackvon said elevator vwhen elevated above loading position being in the path of movement of the lower portion of said frame, means for reciprocatin theframe to first cause the latter to simu taneously push said loaded pallets forwardly from the racks of the elevator to the racks of the rack car and then return to originalposition, and means for elevating the said lower portion of said pusher frame above the level of the said lowermost loaded elevator rack whereby the frame will not interfere during its return stroke with loaded pallets being fed tothe elevator while the latteris being unloaded.

7; In a brick storage loading machine, a vertically disposed elevatorhaving a plurality of spaced racks for :supporting pallets thereon, means 'for delivering loaded pallets to the elevator, a rack car adjacentl the elevator having rackslevel with and substantially similar to the racks of the elevator,

for kelevating the racks of the elevato-r, reciprocating pallet ,unloading means adapted to engage and p ush the pallets from the elevator racks to the racks of the means and a trip for actuating the same, said trip being so positioned in thevertical path rackv car, driving means for the pallet unloading of the loaded pallets on the racks of the elevator, whereby when the topmost rack of the elevator reaches a position level with the top,- most rack of the car to be loaded said trip willbe engaged and said driving means actuated. y y

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature. ROY P. M. DAVIS.v

vator racks to a corresponding number of racks of the rack car, said pusher member having folding members normally vertically disposed, and meansfor lifting said folding members to horizontal position as the pusher member starts on its return movement, said conveyor being positioned outside the elevator and below the plane of the lowest elevator rack being unloaded, wherebythe'next adjacent lower rack of the elevator may be continuously loaded during the unloading operation and the return movement of the pusher member.

6. In a brick storage loading machine, an

elevator having a plurality of spaced racks for supporting pallets thereon, means for delivering loaded pallets continuously to the bottom rack ofthe elevator, means for actuating the elevator toelevate saidvra'cks, a rack car adjacent the 'elevatorhaving racks levelles lI-S 

